Apparatus for cleaning rolls



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 C. F. SMITH QM m APPARATUS FOR CLEANING IROLLS FiledDec.

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m 1942- c. F. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Dec. 13, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 2 1 5. CHARLES E SMITH March 31, 1942.

c. F. SMITH APPARATUS FOR CLEANING ROLLS Filed Dec. 13, 1937 4Sheets-Sheet 5 VE" CHARLES E SMITH u M March 31 1 ,9452;

6;. E. SMITH 2,277,724

AEPARATIISS KERR CLEANING ROLLS Ei-Llied 15, 19.37

4 Sheets-$1196.11

CHARLES E SMITH &

Patented Mar. 31, 1942 one!) STAT,

ru'r orricr erratum FQR CLEANING ROLLS Charles F. Smith, Cicero, 11].,assignor to Rapid 11., a corporation of Illinois Roller 60., GhicagoJ 9Claims.

the apparatus embodies a construction such as to enable the practice .ofa novel cleansing method, to the end that the rolls may be rehabilitatedand used again.

Rolls such as utilized in printing may be constructed of differentmaterials, "for example, rubber, synthetic materials, vulcanized oil andglueeglycer-ine composition. These rolls are accurately finished withinrelatively close limits to predetermined diameters, and are providedwith a highly polished surface for taking the ink.

could be safely used without injury to the roll was to simply wash theroll by hand with a cleaning fluid. Sincethe rolls have a high affinityfor ink, the hand cleaning of the rolls was objectionable in that s toclean them thoroughly by hand; Also, the

various inks utilized caused the rolls to become sticky and tacky. Sucha condition could 'not be eliminated by" the usual hand washing method.

Another condition of the roll which could not hand washing method wasdue to the glazing which formed on the roll due to its use. The only waythe glaze could be removed was by a grinding or polishing operation onthe'roll surface. 7 festly injurious to the roll, and in order torestore the roll, it became necessary to remove an amount of the rollmaterial each time it was ground or polished. With repeated treatmentsof this nature, the smaller until reduced to such size that it wasbeyond the roll adjustments of the press and had to be discarded. l

The herein described invention proposes to overcome the di-flicultiesand in the foregoing methods of cleaning inking rolls by providingimproved apparatus of such construction as to enable the practice-of anentirely new method, whereby a roll may be thoroughly cleaned andrehabilitated, without injury, to the same condition as when new.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide apparatus for thoroughlycleaning the roll and restoring it to its original condition without inway injuring the roll surface or decreasing its diameter, whereby thelife of the roll is materially increased.

A further object of the herein described invention is to provide becorrected by the apparatus for cleaning a roll, which is of suchconstruction that any ink which it wasdifiicult if not impossible Such aprocedure was maniroll became smaller and objections inherentHeretofore, the only cleaning method which penetrates the roll or hasbeen absorbed during use will be brought to the surface during thecleaning operation and washed off, leaving the surface as smooth andvelvety as originally, and with as great ailinity for the ink as whenthe roll was now.

A still further object of the invention isto provide roll cleaningapparatus of such construction that a plurality of different cleaningoperations may be carried on'simultaneously.

Anotherobject of the herein described invention is to providerollcleaning apparatus wherein my novel cleaning process may be carriedout quickly and automatically without the aid of expensive skilledlabor.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, it is proposedto provide -a chuck and adjustable tails'tock arrangement by means ofwhich the roll to be cleaned may be supported and rotated about itslongitudinal axis. Adjacently disposed to the roll thus mounted is anadjustable carriage arranged to be fed along the roll. This carriage hasmounted thereon a pair of spaced idler rollers adapted to engage theroll surface as it is being rotated. Oneof these rollers is providedwith a curved surface so that it will have a kneading action as it rollsover the roll surface. This kneading action of the roller will cause anyink which has penetrated or been absorbed by the roll material to cometo the surface of the roll.

Disposed between the spaced rollers is a buffing disc of felt materialwhich is arranged to bun the surface of the roll after it 'hasbeenkneaded by the kneading roller. Simultaneously with the buffingoperation, a stream of cleaning fluid or solvent is played on theroll'surface. Thus, any ink which has been brought to the surface or maybe disposed on the surface of the roll is acted upon by the cleaningfluid and buffed off by means of the bufiing wheel.

Following the bufiing operation as the carriage is moved along the roll,the other roller, which is termed a squeeze roller is passed over thesurface of the ,roll. This roller is shaped to have a frusto-conical ortapered surface. The action of. this roller is to squeeze out the inkand cleaning fluid remaining on the roll, and leaves the surface cleanand velvety.

The carriage, in addition to being arranged for longitudinal feed alongthe roll, is also arranged to permit its adjustment in a direction atright angles to the feed movement, so that the kneading and squeezerollers, together with the bufiing wheel, may be moved towards and awayfrom the roll being cleaned, thus enabling the cleaning of rolls ofdifferent diameters.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fullyappear from the detailed description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof, andin which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of apparatus embodying thefeatures of the herein described invention, parts being cut away to showthe cooperative relationship of certain of the parts of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section through the apparatus showing theoperative relationship between the cleaning instrumentalities and theroll, and also the arrangement for supplying cleaning fluid to the rollduring cleaning operation, taken substantially on line I.IIIII of Figure1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary View partly in section to show theengagement of the various cleaning instrumentalities with the roll, andthe manner in which the roll surface is affected thereby, takensubstantially on the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detail fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially online VV of Figure 3, to show the manner in which the carriage is mountedfor sliding adjustment towards and away from the roll being cleaned; and

Figure 6 is a detail view in section, taken substantially on line VIVIof Figure 3, to show the mechanism for clutching and unclutching thecarriage relative to its feed screw.

As shown on the drawings:

In general, the apparatus embodies a frame work, roll supportingstructure, a carriage with the cleaning instrumentalities operativelymounted thereon, a carriage feeding mechanism, cleaning fluid supplysystem and power means for operating the apparatus.

The frame structure comprises spaced end frames I and H which arerearwardly-interconnected at their upper ends by means of an anglemember I2. In the present instance, this angle member is integrallyformed with the end frames. However. the angle member may be separatelyfabricated and have its ends secured in any appropriate manner to theend frames.

Forwardly disposed of the angle member I2 is a main guide rail I 3 ofcircular cross section having its ends respectively connected andsupported in the end frames I0 and I I'.

The end frames are each forwardly extended at their upper ends to formconfronting substantially semi-circular wall portions I4 and I5, thecurved edges of these extensions being disposed downwardly and providedwith inwardly extending arcuate peripheral flanges I6 and I 1respectively along their curved edges.

The Wall portions I4 and I form a supporting structure for means wherebythe roll to be cleaned may be rotatably supported. For this purpose, theextension walls I4 and I5 are interconnected by means of a pair ofhorizontally spaced guide rails I 8 and I9 having their ends secured inthe wall extensions. These rails are in parallel relation and haveslidably mounted thereon an adjustable tailstock generally indicated at20.

This tailstock is of taining a spindle 2| 22. The spindle is means ofthe usual the usual construction conwhich supports a dead centerlongitudinally adjustable by hand wheel 23. The tailstock may be securedin adjusted position on the guide rails or ways I8 and I9 by means of aset screw as shown at 24.

Associated with the wall extension I4, there is rotatably supported in asuitable bearing 24 a chuck 25 which is arranged to be driven by meansof a stepped driving pulley as shown at 26.

For driving the chuck, the stepped pulley 26 is connected through a belt21 to a stepped pulley 28 which is interconnected and rotatablysupported with a pulley 29 and sprocket wheel 30 upon a deadcountershaft or spindle 3| supported on the end frame ID. The pulley 29is in turn connected through a belt 32 to a driving pulley 33 on thedrive shaft of an electric motor or other power means 34. This motor issupported on a suitable bracket 35 affixed to the end frame I0.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the ink roll to be cleaned comprises acylindrical body 36 which may be constructed of rubber, syntheticmaterial, vulcanized oil, or other materials such as commonly employedin rollers of this type. The cylindrical body is mounted upon acentrally disposed elongate-axle 31 having its end portions projectingbeyond the ends of the roll body. The inherent construction of the rolladmits of its being easily supported in cleaning position. This isaccomplished simply by supporting one end of the axle in the chuck, thisend being gripped by the chuck jaws, while the other end is rotatablysupported at its center on the tailstock center 22. With thisarrangement the roll may be readily rotated in a manner similar to theworkpiece in a lathe.

Secured to the top of the angular rail I2 is an elongate base plate 38which cooperates with the guide rail I 3 to form guide ways for acarriage 39 supported thereon for sliding movement on the ways betweenthe end frames I0 and II.

Adjustably supported on the carriage for movement in a direction atright angles to the direction of movement of the carriage along the waysI3 and 38 is a frame 40. This frame, as shown in Figure 5, is providedwith a tongue portion 4| which disposed in and slidably associated witha groove 42. A screw 43 is rotatably connected at one end to the frame40 and is in threaded engagement with a nut 44 which is integrallyformed with the carriage 39. This screw may be actuated by means of ahand wheel 45 at its other end. By rotating the screw 43, the frame 40may be adjustably shifted transversely of the carriage 39.

The end of the frame 40 which is opposite the end thereof that isconnected to the screw 43 is shaped to form a combination hood 46 andsupport for the various cleaning instrumentalitles.

The hood 46 is formed by spaced side walls 4'! and 48 of generallysector shape, the curved edges of the walls being joined andinterconnected by a curved wall 49. Referring to Figure 3, it will benoted that this housing opens toward the ink roll supported in positionto be cleaned.

Supported substantially at the center of the housing or hood 46 is aspindle 50 having its ends rotatably supported in suitable bearings 5|and 52 respectively formed in the side walls 41 and 48 of the hood. Thespindle 50 extends through a sleeve 53 inside the hood, this sleevehaving one end abutting the inside of wall 41, and its other end formedwith an abutment flange 54 which abuts the wall 48 of the hood. Thissleeve is secured to the spindle in any appropriate manner and for thispurpose a set screw 55 may be provided.

Intermediate the .ends .of the sleeve, the sleeve is threaded externallyas -shownLat-"56 forassociation with a nut 51. The nut :1 and flange 54serve as clamping members by means of which a plurality of .buffingdiscs 58 of felt or other suitable material may be clamped therebetweenfor rotation with the sleeve 53.

With the arrangement just described, the buffing discs and sleeve 53form a bufiing wheel which may readily be removed as a unit from thehood housing, simply by loosening the set screw -55. With the set screwloosened, the spindle 50 may be withdrawn from its bearing supports andfrom the sleeve 53, whereupon the .bufiing wheel may readily be removedfrom the hood for replacing the bufilng discs or for any ether reason.

The walls 41 and 4,8 of the hood are respectively provided withoppositely extending stub shafts 59 and BB. These stub shafts extendoutwardly from the walls to which they are secured. The shaft 59 hasrotatably supported thereon a roller 3| having a transversely curvedperipheral surface, as shown. The shaft BIlsuppOrts-a roller 52 having afrusto-conical surface. The roller is disposed on the shaft 60 with itslarger end outermost. The rollers may be retained on their respectiveshafts in any desired manner. For this purpose it has been foundconvenient to provide the shaft with inwardly disposed abutmentshoulders and secure the roller against removal from the shaft by meansof a washer 63 disposed :betweenthe outer end of the roller and a cotterkey 64 extending through theend of the shaft.

By reference :to Figure 4, it will be observed that the size of therQllers 6!, B2, and the buffer Whe l 15.8 ar s cho e r lati o t eircentes f rotat on, th t e ments ma 1 e sa e t e c lin i b dy 36 o th p tin rl and act thereon simultaneously in a manner which will subsequently bedescribed in .detail.

One end of the spindle it is provided with a sprocket Wheel ,55 which isconnected through a chain drive 66 1to,a, sp ro,cket wheel .6] mountedonthe driving shaft of an electric motor or other power means 68'. Themotor 68 is supported on the frame so, and, of course, will be movablewith the frame during any adjustment thereof ,on the carriage 39.

The carriage is arranged to be automatically fed along the ways [3 and"38. For thispurpose, a feed screw 69 is supported for rotativemovementin the end frames Ill and l I, and as shown in Figure 3 extends througha portion of the carriage frame 39. The screw does not, however, makethreaded engagement with the carriage where it extends therethrough.Means will subseguently be described for establishing connection betweenthe carriage and the feed screw. I

The feed screw is provided at one end with a sprocket wheel Ell which isconnected by means of a chain 1! to the sprocket wheel 3%] on thecountershaft 3 I.

In order to permit a more rapid adjustment of the carriage along itsways, independently of the feed screw. a clutch generally indicated at'lZ is provided for making clutched and unclutched connection betweenthe carriage and the feed screw.

As shown in detail in Figure 6, there is provided in connection with thecarriage a cylindrical housing'lS which defines a socket M for receivinga spring l5 therein. This spring surrounds a rod 16 which is supportedfor longitudinal shifting movement.

This rod is supported 7 at one end of the housing by means of a plug 11screwed into the open end of the housing socket, and at the other endthe rod is provided with an end porti0n'18 of square cross section whichis disposed in a square opening I9 in the bottom end .of the housing.The juncture of the square portion 18 with the round portion ofthe rodde fines an abutment shoulder against which a washer .BI .is pressed byvirtue of its being engaged by one end of the spring. The other end ofthis spring engages the plug 11. The square portion"!!! terminates atits outer end in a sector nut '82 which is normally actuated by thesprin 7 5 into engagement with the threads of the feed screw 69. Theouter end of the rod lfihas swivelly mounted thereon a hand wheel '83 bymeansof which the rod may be longitudinally moved in such direction asto carry the sector nut 82 out of threaded engagement with the threadsof the feed screw. The hand wheel carries a projecting lug 84 which ismovable therewith and extends substantially parallel to the axis of therod 16. The outer end of the lug 84 is adapted to be moved into and outof a suitable aperture disposed in the plug H. Thus, when the sector nut82 is disengaged from the feed screw, the hand wheel 83 may be rotatedto move the lug 84 to a position wherein its outer end will abut theouter surface of plug 11 and hold the rod 16 against longitudinalmovement to carry the sector. nut into meshed relation with the feedscrew. However, when it is desired to engage the sector nut with thefeed screw, the hand wheel 83 may be rotated to a position wherein the.lug may pass into its aperture in the plug ll thus enabling movement ofthe rod under the influence of spring 15 to force the sector nut intomeshed engegement with the feed screw.

By means of the clutch just described, the carriage may be released whendesired for free movement on its ways independently of the feed screw.On the other hand, when the carriage is in desired position, the clutchmay be actuated to bring the sector nut into engagement with the feedscrew and by operating the feed screw the carriage will be fedautomatically along its ways. During the cleaning of a roll by means ofmy improved method, a cleaning fluid is applied to the roll. This fluidmay constitute any mixture which is-not injurious to the roll material.For example, mixtures which have been successfully used comprisekerosene and naptha, water and caustics, qand benzene and carbontetrachloride.

A tank 585 for the cleaning fluid is supported on a depending framestructure 39, this frame structure being connected to and movablewiththe carriage 39. Supported on the frame structure and having its inletconnected with the tank 85, is asuitable pump 8'1.

The outlet side of the pump is connected to a conduit -83 which conductsthe fluid to a nozzle 89 where it may 'be discharged between thebuffer-wheel and the roll.

In order that the fluid utilized in the cleaning operation may bereturned to the tank 35 and used over again, a catch basin isprovidedbelow the-roll andthe cleaning instrumentalities. This tank isformed by a metal sheet 95 which is of arcuateform. The sheet '9!) issupported. at its ends on the flanges .15 and I? of the wall extensionsand IS. The walls It and iii provide ends for the catch basin, and it-ispreferable to make 'a fluid :tight joint between the sheet ;90 and theend walls. I-Iingedly connected to the outermost edge of the sheet 90 isa hinged cover 9! which may be swingably moved to a position extendingover the roll and cleaning instrumentalities or may be swung to theposition shown in dotted lines in Figure 3 to afford ready access to theroll and permit its being easily removed and put into the device.

The cleaning fluid is returned through a conduit 92 having one endconnected to the bottom of the catch basin, and its other end connectedto the tank. At the point where the conduit 92 connects with the tank85, it is desirable to provide a suitable filter as generally shown indotted lines at 93, for cleaning the fluid before it re-enters the tank.

Although the pump 81 may, if desired, be driven by a separate electricmotor or power means, in the present instance the pump is shown as beingprovided with a driving pulley 94 which is connected through a belt 95to a drive pulley 96 on the drive shaft of the motor 68. Intermediatethe pulleys 94 and 96, the belt 95 may be trained over a pair of guidepulleys 91 and 98 which form a part of a belt tensioning device.

Since the supply conduit for the cleaning fluid is rigidly supportedadjacent its nozzle end on the hood 46 by means of a bracket 99, it willbe evident that the nozzle 99 will be moved with the hood as thecarriage moves along its ways during the cleaning operation. Moreover,since the tank 85 moves with the carriage and the outlet conduit 92 isconnected to the drain basin, it will be appreciated that the supply andreturn conduits 88 and 92 respectively should be provided with flexiblesections to permit free movement of the carriage and the frame 40 of thecarriage structure.

The operation and method of my invention will now be described.

The roll which is to be cleaned is supported in the chuck and tailstockas shown in Figure 2. The rollers 6| and 62, and the bufling wheel 58are then adjusted by means of the hand wheel 45 until the rollers arepressing into the roll cylinder and the bufiing Wheel is just inengagement with the surface of the roll cylinder. Having determined theproper adjustment of the cleaning instrumentalities with reference tothe cylinder roll, the carriage is moved so that the roll 6| will startits operation at the extreme end, in this instance the right end of theroll when the cleaning operation is begun. The motors 34 and 68 may thenbe started, and as soon as liquid is flowing from the nozzle 89, theclutch 12 may be actuated to connect the carriage to the automatic feedscrew 69.

With the motors running, the roll will be rotated and the buffing wheelrevolved. As the carriage moves along to carry the cleaninginstrumentalities along the roll cylinder, the roll 6 I, which will berotated by virtue of the rotation of the cylinder roll, will operate toknead the roll material and cause anyink which has penetrated the sameor which has been absorbed to be brought to the surface.

Following the kneading action of the roller 6|, the buffer wheel willbuff the surface of the roll cylinder and coact with the cleaningsolution to remove any ink which may be thereon.

Following the bufling operation, the roller 62 moves over the rollsurface and acts to squeeze out any remaining fluid thereon and dry thesurface. This roller is also revolved by virtue of its engagement withthe roll cylinder.

The foregoing steps of my improved method are automatically carried outin definite order as the cleaning of the roll progresses. The cleaningoperation does not in any way injure the roll and leaves the rollperfectly cleaned with its surface in as smooth and velvety condition asoriginally.

As the roller 62 passes off the left end of the roll, the clutch 12 maybe disengaged relative to the feed screw, whereupon the movement of thecarriage is terminated. Should it be desired to repeat the cleaningoperation on the roll, this may easily be accomplished by moving thecarriage toward the right end of the apparatu and following the sameprocedure as previously explained. In some cases, it may only benecessary to perform one cleaning operation, whereas in cases where aroll has not been cleaned for a considerable time or due to theparticular use to which it has been subjected, it may be necessary torepeat the operation several times before the roll is perfectly clean.

The use of the apparatus is not confined to any particular size roll, asit may be adjusted to not only take rolls of different length by varyingthe position of the tail stock, but may also be used with rolls ofdifferent diameters by properly adjusting the position of the cleaninginstrumentalities by the hand wheel 45.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the presentinvention provides an improved method for the cleaning of rolls such asutilized in printing presses; novel apparatus for carrying out the stepsof the method; a roll cleaning method which will thoroughly clean theroll and restore it to its original condition without in any way injurinthe roll surface or decreasing its diameter, thu materially increasingthe life of the roll; which effectively removes any ink which haspenetrated or been absorbed by the roll; an apparatus wherein aplurality of different cleaning operations may be carried onsimultaneously and in proper sequence to carry out the method of myinvention; and in which the process may be carried out quickly andautomatically without the aid of expensive skilled labor.

It is, of course, to be understood that although I have described indetail the preferred embodiment of my invention, the invention is not tobe thus limited, but only insofar as defined by the scope and spirit ofthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for the reconditioning of rolls of resilient surfacecharacteristics comprising means for rotating the roll about itslongitudinal axis, a pair of spaced idler rollers, power driven buffermeans disposed between said rollers, said rollers and buffer means beingsupported for unitary movement axially of the roll and engaging spacedportions of the roll surface which are substantially alignedlongitudinally of the roll, and means for applying a cleansing fluid tosaid roll.

2. Apparatus for reconditioning a roll comprising means for supportingthe roll, a buffer wheel disposed in surface engagement with the surfaceof the roll, means for rotating said buffer wheel, means for changingthe surface on said roll engaged by said buffer wheel in a directioncircumferentially of said roll, mean for changing the surface on saidroll engaged by the buffer wheel in a direction axially of the roll, andmeans for supplying a stream of cleaning liquid between the roll andbuffer wheel.

3. Apparatus for reconditioning a roll comprising means for rotatablysupporting the roll, a buffer wheel disposed in surface engagement withthe surface of the roll, means for rotating the roll and buffer wheel,means for feeding the buffer wheel in a direction axially of the roll,and. means movable with the feeding movement of the buffer wheel forapplying a stream of cleaning fluid to the roll during the buffingoperation.

4. In apparatus of the character described, means for supporting a rollhaving resilient surface characteristics, means for kneading the rollsurface, means for applying a cleaning fluid to the surface of the roll,and means including an idler roller of frusto-conical shape for dryingthe roll.

5. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotatablysupporting a roll, a carriage supported for movement along said roll, acontainer for a cleaning fluid supported below the roll for movementwith the carriage, means including a pumpfor applying fluid from thecontainer in a stream to the roll surface, and means carried by saidcarriage for successively performing reconditioning operations on theroll surface as the carriage is moved along the roll.

6. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating aroll to be reconditioned, a carriage supported for independent movementalong said roll, instrumentalities carried by said carriage forsuccessively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface asthe carriage is moved along the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriagefor directing a fluid stream onto the roll surface, means for collectingsaid fluid including a tank carried by and movable with said carriage,and means for supplying fluid from the tank to said fluid nozzle means.

7. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating aroll to be reconditioned,

a carriage supported for independent movement along said roll,instrumentalities carried by said carriage for successively performingreconditioning operations on the roll surface as the carriage is movedalong the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriage for directing a fluidstream onto the roll surface, a catch basin for collecting the fluidfrom said roll, a storage tank carried by and movable with saidcarriage, said tank having a gravity flow connection from the catchbasin, and means for elevating fluid from the tank to said nozzle means.

8. Reconditioning apparatus for rolls comprising means for rotating aroll to be reconditioned, a, carriage supported for independent movementalong said roll, instrumentalities carried by said carriage forsuccessively performing reconditioning operations on the roll surface asthe carriage is moved along the roll, fluid nozzle means on the carriagefor directing a fluid stream onto the roll surface, a catch basin forcollecting the fluid from said roll, a storage tank carried by andmovable with said carriage, said tank having a gravity flow path forfluid from the catch basin, fluid filtering means in said path, andmeans for elevating flltered fluid from the tank to said nozzle means.

9. Apparatus for the reconditioning of rolls of resilient surfacecharacteristics comprising means for rotating the roll about itslongitudinal axis, a pair of spaced idler presser rollers, power drivenbuffer means disposed between said rollers, a common carriage supportfor the presser rollers and buffer means, means for feeding the carriageto simultaneously move the presser rollers and buifer meanslongitudinally along the roll surface, and a single adjusting means forsimultaneously moving the presser rollers and buffer means towards andaway from the roll surface to vary their pressure thereagainst.

CHARLES F. SMITH.

